It appears that the status quo on dual citizenship will be maintained for now.
The Department of Home Affairs said on Wednesday that minister Malusi Gigaba will on Thursday “brief members of the media on discussions around the suggested review of South Africa’s citizenship legislation”.
Home Affairs’ statement said: “The department is presently not considering any policy change in this regard.
“Our law only restricts dual citizenship for those who apply for naturalisation if their countries do not allow dual citizenship.
“The Department of Home Affairs is a key enabler of access to basic rights and services‚ including the right to citizenship.”
Earlier this week‚ the Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) slammed an African National Congress proposal regarding dual citizenship.
The head of the ruling party’s national executive committee on international relations‚ Obed Bapela‚ was undermining the “very core value of South Africa’s democracy” by proposing a change to existing citizenship legislation “purely to prevent one sector of our society‚ in this case‚ South African Jews from having a relationship with Israel’‚ the SAJBD said.
“Bapela called for the notion of dual citizenship to be revised‚ simply to prevent the Jewish community‚ who make up 0.1% of the South African population‚ from identifying with Israel‚” the SAJBD’s Charisse Zeifert said.
Bapela’s calls to target Jewish business and his questioning of Jewish South Africans’ loyalty “is classic anti-Semitism”‚ she added.
Policy change on dual citizenship not currently being considered
It appears that the status quo on dual citizenship will be maintained for now.
The Department of Home Affairs said on Wednesday that minister Malusi Gigaba will on Thursday “brief members of the media on discussions around the suggested review of South Africa’s citizenship legislation”.
Home Affairs’ statement said: “The department is presently not considering any policy change in this regard.
“Our law only restricts dual citizenship for those who apply for naturalisation if their countries do not allow dual citizenship.
“The Department of Home Affairs is a key enabler of access to basic rights and services‚ including the right to citizenship.”
Earlier this week‚ the Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) slammed an African National Congress proposal regarding dual citizenship.
The head of the ruling party’s national executive committee on international relations‚ Obed Bapela‚ was undermining the “very core value of South Africa’s democracy” by proposing a change to existing citizenship legislation “purely to prevent one sector of our society‚ in this case‚ South African Jews from having a relationship with Israel’‚ the SAJBD said.
“Bapela called for the notion of dual citizenship to be revised‚ simply to prevent the Jewish community‚ who make up 0.1% of the South African population‚ from identifying with Israel‚” the SAJBD’s Charisse Zeifert said.
Bapela’s calls to target Jewish business and his questioning of Jewish South Africans’ loyalty “is classic anti-Semitism”‚ she added.
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